Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

The Body Brokers is not my usual reading material, but the cover drew me in. I am glad I judged this book by the cover since, the characters had a hold on me by chapter 3. A relevant mystery with a cast of intriguing characters. It got a little slow at times, but most books do.

I look forward to reading more Brian Cuban novels in the future.

This was really an interesting read. Atmospheric and tension filled from start to finish. So engrossed and cant turn the pages fast enough,! Love the characters and world building. Def recommend,!

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK TOUR BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Body Brokers By Brian Cuban
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Publisher: Post Hill Press

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

The Body Brokers is a really fast-paced action thriller that features elements of both legal thrillers and crime thrillers, while the main characters race to uncover the truth about a high-powered illegal drug operation that takes advantage of those struggling with addiction -- and to learn this truth before the powers-that-be find them and take them out.

This book has a LOT going on and when I say it's fast-paced, I mean you better buckle up for this wild ride! The book starts out with a surprising death and really takes off from there. I enjoyed the characters in this one so much! Cuban did a great job of richly developing each character's storyline and connection to the plot throughout the book. While there were times things felt a little complicated, everything always came back together and intersected brilliantly.

This story deals with pretty heavy topics that could be triggering to some readers, and they aren't minor mentions in the pages -- they are basically the entire plot. So I think it's important to provide trigger warnings in this one: if substance abuse, addiction recovery, the fentanyl crisis, or ongoing cycles of rehab & recovery are difficult or personal topics for you, this book might be a triggering read. With that said, however, I thought this book handled these topics in an incredibly respectful manner, addressing these crises honestly and in a relatable way. In the 'About the Author' section, we learn that Cuban himself is a long-term recovering addict -- and I've no doubt his own personal experiences enabled him to speak about these heavy topics with the genuine authenticity that came across in the pages of this book.

🦈🏀 Fun Fact: Brian Cuban is the younger brother of Shark Tank guru & Dallas Maverick owner, Mark Cuban! 🏀🦈**

If action thrillers are your jam, and if you love a fast-paced read that keeps your adrenaline going from page one until the very end... Then I highly recommend you read this book! Thank you so much to Kate Rock Book Tours, Post Hill Press, NetGalley, Brian Cuban for the advanced physical copy of this book and invitation to be a part of this book tour in exchange for my honest review! Such a fun read!!

#TheBodyBrokers #BrianCuban #PostHillPress #katerockbooktours #booktours #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #actionthrillers #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

This book fell short of expectations, I got sucked in by the cover and description. I feel it needs another proof. Some areas are too long and drag on and on just for length in my opinion. I wish I could have connected better, but I just got annoyed in some areas by the length of some areas.

Brian Cuban’s The Body Brokers is a riveting thriller that seamlessly combines high-stakes action, mystery, and emotional depth. The story plunges readers into the aftermath of a shocking death: Jason’s girlfriend, a year into her hard-won sobriety, is found dead in what appears to be an overdose. However, Jason and her roommate, Emily, refuse to accept this explanation, launching a relentless investigation that unearths a web of secrets neither could have imagined.

Cuban excels at crafting a suspenseful narrative, weaving in twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the final pages. The plot explores the underbelly of addiction recovery, revealing the darker side of an industry many view as life-saving. As Jason uncovers the truth, he realizes not only how little he knew about the woman he loved but also how fragile trust can be in a world full of hidden agendas.

The novel’s pacing is relentless, balancing action-packed scenes with moments of introspection that deepen the reader’s connection to the characters. Jason and Emily’s determination to uncover the truth serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of devastating betrayal.

The Body Brokers is not just a gripping mystery—it’s also a sobering commentary on the exploitation of vulnerability and the hidden battles faced by those in recovery. With its sharp storytelling and thought-provoking themes, this is a must-read for fans of thrillers that challenge as much as they entertain.

This is the second book with Jason Feldman, erstwhile lawyer but now recovering from alcohol- and drug abuse. I haven’t read the first book and thus I sometimes felt a little confused about what happened in Jasons’ past and how it influences him still in this second book. It’s great to see Jason now has a steady job, albeit a humble one where he is sometimes harassed by the customers he caught stealing, and more often by his co-worker and boss Maz.
When Jasons’ girlfriend Emily is found dead, it sets in motion a lot of things with a lot of implications, but I liked it that in fact there are not too many characters to keep track of. Slowly we learn more about Jason but still it was not easy to really relate to him. Maybe that will happen in a third book.
There is a lot of talk and a lot of action in this book and overall the story was nicely balanced. It is great to see the author using his own experience with addiction to a good use – giving people interesting books to read and warn them about the dangers of drug abuse.
Thanks to Post Hill Press and Netgalley for this review copy.

I received this book from NetGalley. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a good read and it was interesting. In some parts, it seemed to go on a bit too long which is why I gave it a 3 star rating. Although there were some twists and turns which are always good! The characters were likeable (the ones that should have been) and it was an easy story to follow.

When his girlfriend dies of a drug overdose, lawyer Jason Feldman goes undercover to ground zero of the fentanyl epidemic to prove she was murdered. This book was entertaining and kept me on my toes wanting to know what was going to happen and how it was going to end! I will definitely read more form this author!

In the final installment of the critically acclaimed legal cozy mystery series, “Good Lieutenant,” LA lawyer Sandy Moss finds herself embroiled in a challenging case that tests her skills and determination.

As Sandy settles into her new home in Los Angeles with her boyfriend, TV star Patrick McNabb, she receives an unexpected phone call from the LA Men’s Detention Center. The call is about a new client: Lt. K.C. Trench, a near-stoic police officer who has been accused of murder. Trench, known for being competent yet not well-liked within his department, stands accused of killing a fellow officer whom he openly despised and had previously threatened.

Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Sandy believes in Trench’s innocence and is determined to uncover the truth behind the accusations. As she delves deeper into the case, she realizes that someone is trying to frame him for the murder. However, as she investigates further, she begins to question what Trench may be hiding from her.

Sandy faces numerous challenges as she navigates through layers of deception and danger while trying to clear Trench’s name. The stakes are high, and with all evidence seemingly pointing towards Trench as the murderer, Sandy must rely on her instincts and legal expertise to help him—even if it puts her own life at risk.

The novel combines elements of legal drama with humor and romance, appealing to fans of classic courtroom stories while also providing an engaging narrative filled with twists and turns.

3.5*

This book was by no means my new favourite thriller, but it did keep me guessing and was a lot of fun. The plot twists throughout had me wondering how everything was connected, and the explanation towards the end made sense.

That last minute plot twist didn’t feel forced or unnecessary. The conclusion was satisfying, and I’m glad every character seemed to have found their happy ending.

The premise of this book was interesting and I admit the cover it what got me, unfortunately I couldn’t find myself getting into the book. It got off to a slow start and wasn’t engaging enough for me to want to continue reading. I couldn’t connect to the character and right away u ping to conclusions about cause of death because of being an addict. We got a small taste of the main characters back story, and I wish the author went into this more. The premise was strong but to me it fell a bit flat.

Thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC. This was a really interesting book. I was definitely captivated from the beginning to end. The way we were able to follow along and see the plot untwist was really good. More character development would have been useful and a little more backstory would also help follow the story.

I definitely stayed up way too late to finish this book. As a psychopharmacologist I really appreciated the timeliness of this book. Fentanyl definitely has made its horrible mark on the drug world and had done so much damage. To follow the story and see the generational negative impacts was a highlight.

Some of the plot seemed a little over the top and some of the scenes moved along too quickly to really be able to absorb and feel all the things through the text.

Overall good and enjoyable read.

This was a pretty solid and enjoyable thriller. It really is scary to see the way the world of drugs and corruption works.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy.

Was this the most on the edge of your seat book I’ve ever read? No.
But did it keep me wanting to know what’s next and fully engaged in the story? Absolutely.
For those interested in a mystery vs a story about addiction this is what you want. It’s not SOLELY focused on living with addiction, but it does involve this, so if this is a trigger for you please be mindful.
Looking forward to reading more by this author.

The Body Brokers by Brian Cuban is a gripping crime thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of the fentanyl epidemic. The novel follows Jason Feldman, a lawyer and former addict, as he investigates the mysterious overdose death of his girlfriend, a case that could easily be dismissed as another relapse. Driven by grief and suspicion, Feldman goes undercover to expose the ruthless "body brokers" profiting from this crisis. His quest reveals a corrupt and violent network preying on vulnerable addicts, forcing him to confront the grim realities of addiction and the extremes people will go to for power and profit. This book builds on Feldman’s earlier troubles from "The Ambulance Chaser," continuing to captivate with its engaging narrative. Though it features some unresolved plot holes, the story remains highly entertaining, and I look forward to seeing deeper character development in future installments.

I loved this book!

I was sceptical that it would focus too strongly on the daily struggles of addiction while not giving enough attention to the plot, but that was thankfully not the case.

Jason Feldman’s struggle and past with addiction were described with enough detail to keep you curious and wondering about all of the ways and reasons his life fell apart. The way he and Emily formed their relationship and seemed to heal and grow together at their own pace was a great addition to the book to keep the topic of addiction and the overall plot from being too thick and heavy.

The theme of how addiction and substance abuse can ruin lives was multifaceted and consistent throughout. It was a nice touch where it was made clear that while addiction ruins lives much the same, there are different risks involved with buying and dealing depending on your socioeconomic circumstances. The theme really brought the book down to earth and made you as a reader have more compassion and understanding for the depth of the opioid crisis in America.

There were some areas in the book that could have been written better or potentially not been included to have given this a 5 star rating for me.

While it is made clear that Jason has a history of drug and alcohol abuse and has had a tough break with law enforcement, it was quite confusing how it was written quite aggressively that he needed to gain Delaney’s trust right off the bat when there was zero context or background given into what he had actually done in his past that made him untrustworthy to others. It would have been better to have gone into more detail and depth on Jason’s past to have been able to understand him as a character more. For example, Jason says “I’ve lived that life, afraid for myself, my son, and my then-wife”. This adds a great deal of curiosity about his life but it’s never fully addressed anywhere in the book.

I also found the circumstances of how Emily’s phone was found - this was pretty far fetched after what Jason, Doc and Delaney went through. It would have been better to have it be that her phone was never found in my opinion, rather than write that in there with what felt like little effort or thought.

Overall, I would highly recommend giving this book a read. The plot twists, descriptive writing and character development were all excellent.

#NetGalley #TheBodyBrokers

The Body Brokers by Brian Cuban is a gripping crime thriller that follows lawyer Jason Feldman as he delves into the dark underworld of the fentanyl epidemic. Driven by the mysterious death of his girlfriend from a suspected overdose, Feldman goes undercover to expose the ruthless individuals profiting from this deadly crisis. As he navigates a treacherous world of corruption and violence, Feldman uncovers a sinister network of "body brokers" who manipulate and exploit vulnerable addicts for their own gain, forcing him to confront the devastating consequences of addiction and the lengths people will go to for power and profit.

Absolutely loved this novel. I'm giving it my highest rating at 5 stars. Will definitely be watch for anything new by Brian Cuban...

This book has a lot of potential. I was attracted to it based on the summary and i liked the characters. In all honesty it feels like a 2nd draft. Could use both structural and line editing. I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for this ebook ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is second in a series of books following Jason Feldman, a lawyer and former addict. We met him "The Ambulance Chaser" where he was accused of murder, well trouble has followed him once again. This time his girlfirend is found dead of an overdose. A former addict herself, it could be easily written off as another relapse death.
But, Jason is suspicious and with his girlfriend's roommate they chase down leads to a corrupt system within treatment centers.
A good story with some pretty unanswered plot holes, this is a really easy read and honestly will entertain you. I would like to see more opportunity for depth in the character is his series goes on.

Jason Feldman finds more than he bargained for when he starts investigating his girlfriend’s somewhat suspicious death. A recovering drug user, it appears that his late girlfriend took one for the road. Jason, like the author of this book himself, is a recovering addict and lost his license to practice law. That element is a substantial part of the book and it’s to the author’s credit that he can call on his own experiences to create a novel.

The twist is delivered fairly early in the piece and from that point on, it’s a fairly smooth ride whilst the dominoes fall. Not being in that world myself, I don’t know how much truth is reflected in this novel about the pitfalls of so called recovery homes but with the opioid epidemic being what it is in America, nothing would surprise me.

A novel that speaks openly about the demons that are out there but doesn’t deliver enough grit to be a thriller.